The Ecosystem Concept in Natural Resource Management focuses on the ecosystem concept and its application to natural resource management. It presents examples of research concepts on natural resource phenomena and discusses ecosystem implications for natural resource management. It also covers range, forest, watershed, fisheries, and wildlife resource science and management. Organized into four sections encompassing 10 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the meaning, origin, and importance of ecosystem concepts before proceeding with a discussion of field research projects that address the ecosystem concept and the ways in which the concept has been or can be useful in both research and management in natural resource sciences. More specifically, it explores major developments in the field of ecology in relation to natural resource management, with examples from forest ecology. It also introduces the reader to procedures for studying grassland ecosystems, the watershed-ecosystem concept and studies of nutrient cycles, ecosystem concepts in forestry, ecosystem models in watershed management, and the implementation of the ecosystem concept in training in the natural resource sciences. This book is a valuable resource for scientists, educators, technicians, and training resource managers, as well as students in resource management courses.

Today's natural resource managers must be able to navigate among the complicated interactions and conflicting interests of diverse stakeholders and decisionmakers. Technical and scientific knowledge, though necessary, are not sufficient. Science is merely one component in a multifaceted world of decision making. And while the demands of resource management have changed greatly, natural resource education and textbooks have not. Until now. Ecosystem Management represents a different kind of textbook for a different kind of course. It offers a new and exciting approach that engages students in active problem solving by using detailed landscape scenarios that reflect the complex issues and conflicting interests that face today's resource managers and scientists. Focusing on the application of the sciences of ecology and conservation biology to real-world concerns, it emphasizes the intricate ecological, socioeconomic, and institutional matrix in which natural resource management functions, and illustrates how to be more effective in that challenging arena. Each chapter is rich with exercises to help facilitate problem-based learning. The main text is supplemented by boxes and figures that provide examples, perspectives, definitions, summaries, and learning tools, along with a variety of essays written by practitioners with on-the-ground experience in applying the principles of ecosystem management. Accompanying the textbook is an instructor's manual that provides a detailed overview of the book and specific guidance on designing a course around it. Download the manual here. Ecosystem Management grew out of a training course developed and presented by the authors for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at its National Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. In 20 offerings to more than 600 natural resource professionals, the authors learned a great deal about what is needed to function successfully as a professional resource manager. The book offers important insights and a unique perspective dervied from that invaluable experience.

The world is undergoing unprecedented changes in many of the factors that determine its fundamental properties and their in- ence on society. These changes include climate; the chemical c- position of the atmosphere; the demands of a growing human population for food and ?ber; and the mobility of organisms, ind- trial products, cultural perspectives, and information ?ows. The magnitude and widespread nature of these changes pose serious challenges in managing the ecosystem services on which society depends. Moreover, many of these changes are strongly in?uenced by human activities, so future patterns of change will continue to be in?uenced by society’s choices and governance. The purpose of this book is to provide a new framework for n- ural resource management—a framework based on stewardship of ecosystems for human well-being in a world dominated by unc- tainty and change. The goal of ecosystem stewardship is to respond to and shape change in social-ecological systems in order to s- tain the supply and opportunities for use of ecosystem services by society. The book links recent advances in the theory of resilience, sustainability, and vulnerability with practical issues of ecosystem management and governance. The book is aimed at advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students of natural resource management as well as professional managers, community leaders, and policy makers with backgrounds in a wide array of d- ciplines, including ecology, policy studies, economics, sociology, and anthropology.

The perseveration of our natural environment has become a critical objective of environmental scientists, business owners, and citizens alike. Because we depend on natural resources to survive, uncovering methods for preserving and maintaining these resources has become a focal point to ensure a high quality of life for future generations. Natural Resources Management: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications emphasizes the importance of land, soil, water, foliage, and wildlife conservation efforts and management. Focusing on sustainability solutions and methods for preserving the natural environment, this critical multi-volume research work is a comprehensive resource for environmental conservationists, policymakers, researchers, and graduate-level students interested in identifying key research in the field of natural resource preservation and management.